Update: John Carlson is doubtful to play because of his concussion and was removed from the projections. Adrian Peterson is listed as questionable but is still expected to play this week. He had limited work on Friday after being rested during the week. His performance will depend on how well his foot holds up.

The 9-5 Bengals lost last week but are 6-0 at home this year. The 4-9-1 Vikings surprised the Eagles last week but are 0-6-1 in road games. The Bengals have to win here, the Vikings just need to show up and stop ruining their draft slot.

Pregame Notes: The Vikings won last week but the writing is on the wall for Leslie Frazier after a season with only four wins. The final two games are both tough and the Lions will still be playing for something by the final week. But at least the Vikings offense is showing more in the passing game and there's always the hope it all comes together before Adrian Peterson retires.

QUARTERBACKS:Matt Cassel is the starter again this week and he was great in the win over the Eagles passing for 382 yards and two scores with a third touchdown rushed in. He's consistently been better than Christian Ponder but that apparently wasn't noticed until lately. Cassel will finish out the season and give the Vikes something to think about next season.

RUNNING BACKS:Adrian Peterson was held out last Sunday but is expected to be back for this game. Toby Gerhart is still out with his hamstring issue so Matt Asiata will still play a very minor role. He scored three times against the Eagles but only gained 51 yards on 30 carries. The last time Peterson ran 30 times he broke 200 yards.

WIDE RECEIVERS: Cassel is starting mainly because he's been the only quarterback who will connect with Greg Jennings. Last week it was 11 receptions for 163 yards and one touchdown in a game that dwarfed all others for the season. Jennings scored in two of the last three weeks and with Cassel starting can be relied on for around 60 yards as a minimum. Cordarrelle Patterson also scored in each of the last three games that Cassel started though his yardage was low in all but the loss to the Ravens. Patterson's speed and deep ability come into play only when Cassel is starting.

TIGHT ENDS:John Carlson missed last week because of his concussion but has been just a minor player this year anyway. He's scored only once and managed just three games with more than 40 yards.

MATCH TO THE DEFENSE: The Bengals play better at home and against the pass were outstanding until Andrew Luck went there in week 14. More important here is that the Bengals are one of the best at stopping the run and only allowed three rushing scores by a running back this year. No back has been able to get more than 14 carries as a visitor in Cincy. The only fantasy plays this week are Peterson - who should have a lesser effort here - and Jennings who at least has the upside to turn in a good effort now that Cassel is there. The only problem is that Jennings still has not scored in a road game this year.

Pregame Notes: Falling to the Steelers was not in the plans but at least the season ends with two home games and the season finale versus the Ravens should ensure that the Bengals represent the AFC North in the playoffs. The last three home games produced over 40 points each and that's the sort of trend you have to like for these final two weeks.

QUARTERBACKS:Andy Dalton likes home. His last three games there produced four, three and five touchdowns along with moderate to good yardage. Dalton only missed scoring in one of the last nine games but his passing yardage has not topped 275 in the last five games. That might change this week.

RUNNING BACKS:Giovani Bernard is getting around 15 touches per game and last week was the goal line back as well scoring once. He's consistently more productive at home though his scoring has been mostly in away venues. BenJarvus Green-Ellis was only used for four runs last week and the consensus is that he's wearing down. Unlike Bernard, most of his scoring does occur in Cincy but he has no role as a receiver and marginal yardage even in a good game.

WIDE RECEIVERS: Aside from being shut down by Joe Haden twice this year, A.J. Green is consistently turning in good yardage and a score whenever not facing a good defense - like this week. Green already logged eight touchdowns and six 100 yard games so far. Marvin Jones racked up nine scores on the year and that includes the last two games. But he's not about a truly horrible showing with four games that failed to produce even 15 yards and no scores in them.

TIGHT ENDS:Jermaine Gresham injured his hip and left the Steelers game but he's never been more than a score every few weeks along with minimal yardage. Tyler Eifert scored last week but otherwise is having a normal quiet rookie season. I will assume that Gresham is out but he is not a fantasy consideration anyway.

MATCH TO THE DEFENSE: The Vikings allow two passing touchdowns to everyone and three if they want to try. This is one of the worst defenses in the league across the board and even more so when on the road. Dalton, Johnson, Bernard and even potentially Jones should be considered as starters this week. This is such a bad pass defense that literally any offensive player could catch a score.